Automatic director for headlights



R. H. SHIVERS.

AUTOMATIC DIRECTORFOR HEADLIGHTS. APPLICATION FILED JAN-1.5,1920.

Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- R. H. SHI'VEBS. AUTOMATIC DIRECTOR FOR HEADLIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN- I5, I920.

Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ///lIm I 12.12 572mm I 7 awa s 301mm Enema SHIVERS, orATLANTA, GEORGIA.

AUTOMATIC DIRECTOR FOR HEADLIGHTS.

I Specificationof Letters lfatexit. Patented July Application filedJanuary 15, 1920. Serial No. 351,5;i6.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Bonner HARPER Snivnns, a citigenof the United'States,re-

siding at Atlanta, in the county. of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented oer-- tain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Directorsfor. Headlights; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic directors forheadlights, and it consists in providing'an attachment automaticallyoperated by the shifting of the front wheels incident to the steering ofthe vehicle, causing the rays of light from the headlights of thevehicle to be projecte upon the roadbed.

When the 'vehicle is proceeding. straight ahead, as along a straightroad, the apparatus is so arranged. that the rays, of light will bethrown straight ahead or in the normal direction; but when turning tothe right or left, as the case may be, the apparatus is so arranged thatboth headlights will be simultaneously turned through an an gle'to theright or left, as the case may it 'of Fig. 4, and look ng in thedirection of the arrows, the parts being shown on a.

be, thus illuminating the bend in the road.

According to my invention I provide a. transverse bar spanning the frameof the ve-.

hicle forward of the front axle, and provided with anti-frictionrollersadapted to engage the plain sides of a pneumatic tire. there being aclearance space between the said rollers and the adjacent tires so thatthe said rollers will not bein engagement whenthe front wheels are inthe position for going straight ahead, but'will be oper ated whenthesteering gearis operated so as to turn the wheels through anappreciable angle as occurs when following the bend of a road. 7

The invention comprises, in addition to the bar just referred to,certain other coacting parts controlled by the longitudinal I mountedthe shdlng bar E, car

movement of the bar, whereby the two headlights are simultaneouslyoperated ina mannor that will be hereinafter more fully de-.

scribed.

The invention will be more fully vunder- 'by similar reference symbolsthroughout several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagram showing thefrontend of the chassis of an automobile with my, improved apparatus inplan, and the;

wheels in position for going straight ahead. Fig. 2 1S.l.'S1m1lLI' newto Fig. 1, but

shows the wheels in the position for going to the ,right, with theheadlights turned,

through the proper angle for illuminating the roa'dbed.

Fig, 3 is a front elevation the position shown in Fig. 1.

. 1 6 of an automoblle, the wheels and headlights being in Fig. 4cis aplan view'partly. in section,

butfon a larger scale than in the preced'plg figures, showing theoperating bar and t e contiguous parts, but with the parts the positionshown'in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig." 5 is a similar view to Fig 4, but

shows the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation along the line 66 of F 4:, and lookingin the direction of the arrows, the headlights being" shown in dottedlines.

r This figure shows more especially the means of fastening theattachment to the chassis of the vehicle and Fig. 7 shows a sectionalong the line 7+7 larger scale than in Fig. 4.

131 the various views the steeringgear for operating the wheels isomitted forthe'sake of clearness in the drawings, such steering gearbeing well .known in the art'andnot being a part: of my presentinvention.

A represents the mainframe 0f. the

chassis to which thefront axle B is vQQII- nected in the usual or anyconvenie'nt way,

and the front wheels C are mounted upon [the usual stub axles B whichare swungby the steering gear in the usual or in any convenient way. i

Secured'to the chassis frame above the 'front axle, and preferably belowthe ,head-' shell 6 of rubber or other suitable material so as not toout or unnecessarily wear the exposed sides of the tire.

as E een? 9?. Wee he low metal, or constructed in"a11y, convenient way,and is preferably provided with a stop pin 0 engagingin the slot cl ofthe sleeve D; This pin prevents; the bar from being thrown too far, whensuddenly struck by the wheel in turning, andgalsoserves to pre-- ventthe bar from being accidentally removed-fronrthe sleeve. except when itis desired to do so. The bar E is preferably notched, as at e, to engagethe 'anti friction rollers f, whicli rollers are carried at the bottomof the standards F supporting'the yokes F on which the headlights G aremiiuhtedw i Pivoted to and sumdorting these '7 stand ards' F" are thecrank arms H 'which are pivoted to the bolts I passingthrough the boxesK, in which these arms H are mounted.

These boxes K are provided with suitable covers K which'j'may beheld inplace in any convenient way, as by means of the bolts 70. These boxesare also secured to the frame of the chassis in any convenient way,

as by'me ans of the 'b'rackets L, as shown in F ig." 6.

tered'position I provide any suitable spring locking arrangement, suchas'the' ball hi and spring m, whichball is pressed into a socket Win thebottom of the boX K.

These balls'serve as spring latchesto steady the lights in the "centered01' straight ahead position. W V a.

The covers K of theboxes K are slotted, as shown at k, to permit thevibratorymotion of the standards F and the'sleeve D, and are alsoslotted, as fat (Z to-permit the swinging in, and out of the arms H. andthe anti-friction rollers f. v V

In order to lessen the shock, if the lights, are swung too quickly tothe right or left, i

as when'the front wheels are deflected very qu ckly, sultable springbuffers are provided, such as the leaf springs N.

It will be noted that when the front wheels are set by the steeringgearin the straight ahead position shown 'in 'Fig." 1, the two arms Hwill be-.l1eld by the spring catches M 'in the centered position. ,Whenthe wheels are turned to the right or left, for instance to the right'asshown in Fig. 2

for the purpose ofjmaking a right turn, or

followinga bend to the right in the road,

1 the sliding bar E is automatically pushed to the right, swinging theheadlights to the fio'h ti n shown in Fig. 2.

the. wheels are rightedi' again the oppos te wheeluwill push ;on theother end' of the bar, restoringthe parts to the initial position. e v pi Since it willbe only desirable tobhave the device operate where thereare considerable turns in the road, or when itfis Idesired'to turn thevehicle itself, it will be i1 order to llockthe arms H in the cen t andthey willthen assume the posi desirable to have more or lessclearance-be tween therollers E at theend of the bar E and the adjacentsurface of the wheel tires so that the apparatus may not be toosensitive in its action. 7

In orderto remove the bar E irom the sleeve .D take out the stop pin a,turn the wheels so that the ends of the bar clear the rollers E and pullout the bar. 'To return the bar, reverse the operation.

It may be desirable to remove the bar during the use of the vehicle byday, or

1 whenever it is desired not to use the automatic directing apparatusherein describe-(1,;

in which case the arms I-I may be moved to the centered position,and'will be held in this position by 'the'spring latches M, and

thus the headlights may be held in the nor-' road straight ahead.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in theherein described apparatus, and in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts which could "be used without'departing from thespirit of my invention; and lf do not mean to limit Having thusdescr'bed my invention What I claim and desire to secure byLettersPatent of the United States is v 1. An automatic director forhead lights for Y wheeled vehicles provided with tires and head lightscarried on standards, comprising a sleeve with .means for attaching abar ofslightly lessflength than the distance between [theadjacent'wheels of the vehicle,slidably'mounted in said sleeve, said barbeing provided at each end with. a .roller adapted to engage thesideface of the adj acent tire, and also with notches to engagethe'standards of the head lights, boxes connected to said sleeve,andarms pivoted in said boxes and engaging said standards near theirlower ends, substantially as described. 2. An automobile director forhead lights mal position, or that for illuminating the the invention tosuch details except as partieularly pointed out in the claims.

.100 said sleeve to the body irame of" the vel11cle,:

for wheeled vehicles provided with tires and head lights carried onstandards comprising a; sleeve with means for attaching said sleeve tothe body frame of the vehicle,

bar being provided at-eaeh end with a roller adapted to engage the. sideface of the adjacent tire, and also with notches to engage the standardsof the head lights, boxes connected to said sleeve and arms pivoted inSLlCllJOXGS and engaging sa d standards near their lower ends, withspring latches mounted in said boxes and normally locking said arms theposition for holding said rollers out of engagement with either of theadja cent tires, substantiallyas described;

tween the adjacent wheels of the vehicle,

slidably mounted in said sleeve, said bar being provided at each endwith a roller adapted to engage the side face of the adjacent tire, andalso with notches to engage the rollers on the standards of the headlights, boxes connected. to said sleeve, and arms pivoted in said boxesand engaging said standards near their lower ends,-substantially asdescribed.

4. An automatic director forhead lights for wheeled vehicles providedwith tires and head lights carried on standards, comprising antifrictionrollers journaled on said standards near the lower ends thereof, asleeve with means for attaching said sleeve to the body frame of thevehicle, a bar of slightly less length than the distance between theadjacent wheels of the vehicle, slidably mounted in said sleeve, saidbar being provided at each end with a roller adapted to engage the sideface of the adj acent tire, and also with notches to engage the rollerson the standards of the head lights, boxes connected to said sleeve,arms pivotedin said boxes and engaging said standards near their lowerends, and spring latches mounted in said boxes and normally locking saidarms in the position for holding said rollers out of engagement witheither of the adjacent tires, substantially as described. I

5. An automatic director for headlights for wheeled vehicles providedwith tires andhead lights carried on standards, comprising a sleeve withmeans for attaching said sleeve to the body frame of the vehicle, a'barof slightly less length than the distance between the adjacent wheels ofthe vehicle, slidably mounted in said sleeve, said bar being provided ateach end with a roller adapted to engage the side face of the adjacenttire, and also with notches to engage the standards of the head lights,boxes connected to said sleeve, and arms pivoted in said boxes andengaging said standards near their lower ends, with buffer springs insaid boxes'serving as shock absorbers to said arms, substantially asdescribed. V

6. An automatic director for'head lights for wheeled vehicles providedwith tires and head lights carried on standards, comprising a sleevewith means for attaching said sleeve to the body frame of the vehicle, abar of slightly less length than the distance between the adjacentwheels of the vehicle, slidably mounted in said sleeve, said bar beingprovided at each end with a roller adapted to engage the side face ofthe adj acent tire, and also with notches to engage the standards of thehead lights, boxes connected to said sleeve, and arms pivoted in saidboxes and engaging saidstandards near the1r lower ends with springlatches mounted in said boxes and normally locking said arms in theposition for holding said rollersout of engagement with either of theadjacent tires, with buffer springs in said boxes serving as shockabsorbers to said arms, substantially as described.

7. An automatic director for head lights for wheeled vehicles providedwith tires and head lights carried on standards, comprising antifrictionrollers journaled on said standards near the lower ends thereof, asleeve with means for attaching said sleeve to the body frame of thevehicle, a bar of slightly less length than the distance between theadjacent wheels of the vehicle, slidably mounted in said sleeve, saidbar being provided at each end with a roller adapted to said boxesserving as shock absorbers to said arms, substantially as described.

8. An automatic director for head lights for wheeled vehicles providedwith tires and head lights carried on standards, comprising antifrictionrollers journaled on said standards near the lower ends thereof,

a sleeve with means for attaching said sleeve to the body frame of thevehicle, a bar of slightly less length than the distance between theadjacent wheels of the vehicle, slidably mounted in said sleeve, saidbar being provided at each end with a roller adapted to engage the sidefaceof the ad with either of the adjacent tires, with buffer springs insaid boxes serving as shock absorbers to said arms, subtantlally asdescribed,

ROBERT HA PER SHIVER'S.

